Gideon’s gave a cold gaze as the heavy doors to the throne room creaked open. The sight that met him was one that immediately put him on edge. King Aden, sitting on his massive throne, looked less like a ruler and more like a bloated, self-absorbed figurehead. His body filled the grand seat, his face round and flushed with an unnerving mix of arrogance and anger. His robes were colorful, ostentatious, but it was clear that his belly strained against the fabric. He was a man of excess, his demeanor a poor reflection of the power he wielded.The guards led them forward, their faces hardened and impassive, eyes darting between the group. Gideon stood tall, eyes narrowed, while Seraphina, Jareth and Lucinda moved to either side, their readiness for combat palpable. Kai, still processing everything, stood at the back, his thoughts swirling.King Aden’s voice boomed across the throne room. “What is this?” he sneered, narrowing his eyes at Gideon. “A band of ragtag rebels wandering into my k

The witch’s house was unnervingly quiet, the kind of silence that makes even the most courageous heart waver. Gideon stood rooted to the spot, his companions behind him exchanging uncertain glances. The witch, seated cross-legged on the floor, motioned for him to sit in front of her.“Come, child,” she said, her voice steady, low, and filled with an ancient weight. “Your journey is riddled with shadows. Let us lift some of them, even if only briefly.”Gideon hesitated for a moment, then lowered himself onto the floor before her. His legs folded beneath him, his hands resting on his knees. He glanced at his companions: Seraphina, whose grip on her staff betrayed her concern; Jareth, standing with his arms crossed, an expression of skepticism on his face; Kai, pacing nervously near the tent flap; and Lucinda, who stood quietly, her violet eyes watching the scene unfold.“Will he be safe?” Seraphina asked, her voice edged with worry.The witch looked up, her sharp gaze meeting Seraphina

The city was shrouded in a tense silence as Gideon, his companions, and the king’s guards stood in the courtyard, chained and surrounded. But suddenly, a deafening roar shattered the stillness, shaking the ground beneath their feet.Far above, dark, winged shapes soared across the sky, blocking out the moonlight. The creatures were massive, with scales like molten iron, wings that spanned the width of entire buildings, and eyes that glowed like burning coals. They swooped in toward the city, their wings flapping in unison like a storm that had come to ravage everything in its path.Gideon’s eyes widened in disbelief as the creatures descended. His heart pounded in his chest, his mind racing. These weren’t mere demons they were the same creatures he had seen in his vision. The ones who served the dark lord.King Aden, pale and trembling, stood frozen in place, his hand raised as if trying to halt the inevitable onslaught. “No! This is not what you promised!” he shouted, but the creatur

The hills stretched before them, bathed in the silvery glow of moonlight. Ravenhelm was visible in the distance, its smoky remnants clawing at the starless sky, a grim reminder of the battle they had just left behind. The fires from the attack still flickered faintly, making the city appear like a wound on the landscape. Gideon’s eyes lingered on the scene, his thoughts tangled in the revelations of the past days.Their camp was modest, tucked among the hills to avoid detection. A faint breeze rustled through the grass, carrying with it the distant howls of wolves. Jareth sat by the fire, strumming a lute he had purchased in Ravenhelm. The soft, melodic notes provided an eerie contrast to the unsettling quiet of the night.Lucinda, perched on a fallen log, leaned closer to the firelight, her dark eyes gleaming with mischief. “Did I ever tell you the tale of the Shadow-Walkers?” she asked, her voice low and conspiratorial.Kai, who had been poking at the embers with a stick, froze. “Sh

Gideon and his companions trudged down the winding path from the hilltop, the looming shadow of Ravenhelm fading into the horizon behind them. The group had barely rested after the night’s events, but there was no time to waste. Gideon’s vision of the girl consumed his thoughts, the memory of her golden hair and the fox on her shoulder vivid in his mind.“We’re close to the village,” Seraphina said, pointing ahead. “It’s small, but someone here might know something about the girl.”Gideon nodded, his jaw set with determination. “We’ll ask everyone if we have to. Someone has to know.”Kai, walking a little behind them, yawned loudly. “And if no one knows? What then?”“Then we keep searching,” Gideon said firmly, glancing over his shoulder. “We don’t give up.”The village came into view as they rounded a bend. It was quaint, with narrow cobblestone streets and tightly packed cottages. Smoke curled from chimneys, and villagers bustled about, carrying baskets of goods or chatting in small